Page 34 of Love Over Easy

Shyanne

“Do you want more coffee?” David screams from across the room.

I wince and squeeze my eyes tightly shut. I lick my parched lips and whisper, “No.”

David is brave enough to chuckle as he sets a bottle of water in front of me. The only reason he’s still standing is because he had two aspirins waiting for me when I was finally able to crack my eyes open this morning.

Once my brain is functional, I know I’ll die of embarrassment at David having to pull my naked ass from the ocean. At least I wasn’t the only one. Melissa, Brandy, and Suzie were the smart ones. After a good dunking, they complained the water was too cold and got out. Kimberly, Jennifer, and I evidently didn’t feel the cold. I’m still foggy on how I got naked. When I went in the water, I had my bra and panties on.

I rub my forehead to ease the pounding going on inside. This is all conjecture. I don’t remember much after Kimberly refilled my margarita glass for the third time. Or was it four?

“Do I need to call anyone to let them know you’re going to be late getting to the café today?”

I groan and whimper when the sound makes the pounding worse. “I’ll be fine after a shower.”

David mumbles something and the next thing I know, I’m jerked awake when he lifts me up and carries me upstairs. “What are you doing?” I ask as my stomach rolls.

“You fell asleep at the breakfast bar and you need a shower,” he says, just before the spray of water hits me in the face. Cold water at that.

* * *

“I did warn you about those get-togethers,” David says with a smug glance my way.

I take a sip of my travel mug of coffee that David was nice enough to make me—after he stuffed me in the shower. I wouldn’t dare admit that I feel much more like myself.

“Is there anything I can do to help at the café today?” he asks, making me feel even more guilty for what he had to do for me last night and this morning. He’ll probably never want to have sex with me again after dealing with my drunk butt.

“No, thank you,” I say without glancing his way. I know my face is flushed, but I keep remembering more of what happened last night.

My heart is in my throat, but I need to know. “Did…did Bode and Case see my naked ass?”

He starts to chuckle, but wisely decides to nix that response. In all seriousness, he says, “We made a pact. We saw nothing.”

I’m not sure what that means, but I know I won’t be looking either man in the eyes for a very long time.

David drops me off at the café and even gives me a kiss goodbye that I don’t feel like I deserve.

Melissa meets me at the door. “Wow, you look rough,” she says.

I fish the key out of my pocket and push it in the lock. “I feel ten times worse. I’ve never been drunk before. I will never drink anything alcoholic again. Ever.”

“Never been drunk? Not even in college?” Melissa asks as she breezes by me and gets right to work unboxing yesterday’s deliveries.

“I never went to college.” I don’t usually share that with anyone. I wish I could have gone to college. My father wouldn’t allow it.

Melissa shrugs. “Oh. It’s not for everyone.”

“I did take some cooking courses at the New York Academy of Food Science. And I suppose I had somewhat of an apprenticeship with a few five-star Michelin chefs.” That had been my dad’s way of appeasing my request to go to college.

“You definitely have the touch. Your food is amazing. I can’t wait until we open.”

“Right, we open tomorrow. We need to get to work.”

By the time I lock the door that afternoon and climb into David’s truck, I’m back to normal and thrilled with all we’d accomplished. Tomorrow, I’ll spend the morning prepping and then the Sunset Café opens.

That night David steps into the shower behind me and I go willingly to my knees. It’s another late night, but this one I don’t mind at all because it’s spent in his arms and with orgasms. I fall into an exhausted sleep after the third one.

As I drift off, I can’t believe how much I love this life I’ve made. It’s like all my dreams are coming true.

---